Heel



Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,965

L. KAPLAN HEEL I Filed March 2. 1925 mum gmwmlioz:

Mm" MPH/V,

Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE- LOUIS KAPLAN', OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

e I HEEL.

Application filed March 2, 1925. Serial No. 12,745.

The present invention relates toheels of shoes or other articles of footwear, and par-' construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without cleparting from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the tread of a heel embodying the improvements.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a modified form of heel.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of still another modification.

The heel 7 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is composed of rubber or other cushioning material, and is formed at its tread surface with a U-shaped rib 8 having its ends directed forwardly and terminating adjacent to the breast or forward end of the heel. The rib 8 is broad at one end and tapers or decreases in width to the opposite end, and the broader portion of the rib is that side of the longitudinal median line of the heel where the most wear occurs, so that the wide portion of the rib will resist such wear. As shown, the rib has notches or cut-away portions 9 at longitudinally spaced points at the narrower part of the rib, leaving lugs 10 which increase the anti-skidding prop erty of the heel.

A second rib 11 is formed on the tread surface of the heel at the rear end of the heel and is curved reversely to the rib 8 and reversely to the curvature of the rear end of the heel. The rib 11 is broad at that end corresponding to the broad end of the rib 8, and tapers or decreases in width to the opposite end, the rib 11 also having notches 12 leaving the lugs 13 which correspond with the lugs 10, said lugs being disposed at that half or side portion of the heel which wears away more slowly, While the wide portions of the ribs are located at that side where the most wear occurs.

The broad portions of the ribs will resist the running-down or wearing away of that side portion of the heel which usually re- I ceives the greatest wear, and it will be noted that the ribs or. portions which extend from one-half or side portion of the heel to the opposite half or side portion thereof decrease in size or area from the faster to the slower wearing portions of the heel. As a result the wear or run-down of the heel is equalized, at least to such an extent as to considerably lengthen the life of the heel, and to avoid the discomfiture attendant to a heel which wears down too quickly at one side.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a heel '7 having ribs 8 on the tread surface thereof and extending substantially transversely across the longitudinal median line. Said ribs are broad at that side portion of the heel which usually wears away the fastest, and said ribs have recesses 9 which may be of the same depth as the ribs, as seen in Fig. 4. The heel 7 also has the rib 11 which is the same as the rib ll of Fig. 1. By the provision of the recesses or cuts 9 in the ribs 8 the non slipping action of the ribs will be greatly increased.

Fig. 5 illustrates a heel 7 composed of the front andrear sections 16 and 17 of rubber or suitable composition, the rear section 17 being of such material which has better or longer wearing qualities than the material of which the section 16 is composed. In other words, the section 16 is of relatively quick wearing rubber'or material, while the section 17 is of comparatively long wearing rubber or material, in order to equalize the wearing away of the front and rear portions of the heel. The section 16 has the transverse rib 8 which is composed of secondary ribs 14 and 15. The ribs 14 are close together at that end where the least wear occurs and said ribs diverge apart to that side of the heel which receives the greatest wear, and the ribs 15 are located between the ribs 14 to fill in the space between said ribs 14, with the ribs 14 and 15 spaced apart slightly. The section 17 has a rib 11 similar to the rib 11 of the heel 7 as shown in Fig. 1.

The ribs or portions on the tread surfaces of the several heels are all preferably of uniform thickness or height.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is 1. A heel having a wear-resisting and non-skidding portion on its tread surface with one end at the faster wearing side of the heel and the other end at the slower wearing side, said portion decreasing in width from the first named to the second named side. a V

2. A heel having a rib on its tread surface with abroad end at the side of the heel which is subjected to the greatest Wear and extending to the side of the heel which receives the least wear, said rib tapering in width from said broad end to the last-named side of the heel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. l

LOUIS 'KAPLAN, 

